Easy but special lunch for 16?

[MatthewBroderick]

I'm hosting a family lunch for 16 in a couple of weeks to celebrate my DM's 70th birthday. I love cooking and normally would relish doing it but I get back from holiday late the day before and so need to do something fairly quick while still being special. I'd like to get it all ordered before I go away and can use Ocado, Waitrose (inc Waitrose Entertaining).

We are 11 adults and 5 children aged 2-10. No allergies or dietary requirements except we've been asked for fishfingers for one child which I will do (and will do plenty in case other children also want them, but would like to have other options too).

Thoughts so far have been to buy a really nice bit of meat eg big beef rib and just do that as a roast (with accompaniments) plus a few different puddings and a birthday cake (which I'll order from the local bakery), but I'm slightly nervous about what the weather will be like- fine if it's still raining then but it might be warm. Could do a buffet but would need to be at the Ottolenghi-ish end of the scale which is a lot of work. Or something in between- big bit of meat plus various salads with hot potatoes of some sort...

WWYD?

Salmon fillets cooked in foil with whatever seasonings/flavourings you like.
Green veg. Potatoes. Hollandaise sauce.

Eton mess for pudding.

Does it have to be a cooked meal? You could do a cream tea for people to help them selves to instead of a standard buffet (with fish fingers of course) cheese and fruit scones, selection of jams, nice sausage rolls, sandwiche platters made up by the supermarket, selection of cakes.

What devices do you have for cooking - slow cooker/air fryer etc?

I like the idea of a big bit of meat with a selection of sides, if you have a slow cooker you could do pulled pork, some kind of Moroccan spiced lamb, beef ribs or something else along those lines that your family will like. Then it's just a matter of adding meat, seasonings and liquid to the cooker and leaving it to sort itself out.

Air fryer is great for roast potatoes if you have one big enough, depending on the meat, I like parmentier [sp?] potatoes where you cube them quite small, add rosemary, salt, pepper and oil then cook till crispy.

I would do a fancy afternoon tea or if wanting something hot then a lasgna, beef stroganoff with rice or some nice pies from a farm shop

Get a big ham aswell. New potatoes. French stick. Agree with pp re lasagne, prepare the mince now and freeze it in bags fir your return. Fresh lasagne sheets, = 2 trays of lasagne easily made beforehand. All the above are nice warm, not hot, which makes prepping it easier.

Starter of pâté, maybe a couple of different types, eg smooth duck and chunky pork.

Main M&S honey roasted side of salmon ready to serve, this serves 10 to 12, so add a platter of prawns, and some extras such as cooked calamari rings perhaps cooked mussels, dressed crab, and fish fingers!
Serve with new potatoes, or potato salad/pasta salad, cucumber, tomato radishes.

Puddings, trifle, profiteroles etc. with plenty of celebratory fizz.
Anything more complicated than that, and you are going to spend all your time in the kitchen on your Mother's birthday!

Cold Gammon , beef and chicken
Chutneys, pickles etc
Potato salad, coleslaw and pasta salad
Green salad, cherry tomatoes , spring onions
Selection of cheeses
Part baked rolls served warm
2 puddings
Birthday cake
All of it can be ordered
Hope she has a lovely day
Oh and order some good tea bags 🍵

I’d do a casserole or chilli you can make the day before and reheat. It can serve a large number and keeps warm well. Add preferred sides depending on what you go with - rice, potato, nachos, guacamole, grated cheese - and you’re sorted.

I think I would go with a simply cold buffet.
A side of salmon
A fillet of beef

Then a potato salad
Coleslaw (make either potato salad or coleslaw with a non mayo, yoghurt or vinegarette for any mayo haters.
Tomato, mozzarella and basil salad
A grain and roasted veg salad
Green salad
Water melon, feta and mint salad

Fresh bread

Simply food with good ingredients

Slow roasted Moroccan lamb shoulder(s)
Pitta
Grain salad / sort of tabbouleh
Tsatsiki
Roasted Mediterranean veg / BBQ skewers
Roasted new potatoes
Beetroot and feta salad
Baked / BBQ halloumi

I’m crap at cooking but good at baking so would do afternoon tea (plus fishfingers)

Slow roasted lamb shoulders, roast potatoes with marjoram, salads, roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Serve with tzatziki, pittas (fish finger fans can make fish finger pitas)

A piece of ham cooked overnight in slow cooker in cola- not the diet stuff is lovely. Doesn't taste of Coke. Selection of meats, salad etc. Noce rolled from.bakery and cakes too. I would not be making sandwiches- takes ages.

Roast potatoes or chips for people to help.themselves. strawberries and cream or a big fruit salad. If u hsve children old enough they could do this.

Salmon wellington, beef wellington, mushroom wellington

Fishfingers

Boiled new potatoes

Salads

Pavlova, ice cream, berries

Thank you, everyone- lots of good ideas here. Shall have a read through properly and think what's going to work. Needs to be lunch rather than tea unfortunately.